Adelaide Festival 2026 invites audiences into a world of imagination with A Concise Compendium of Wonder, an enchanting outdoor theatre experience created by acclaimed South Australian company Slingsby.
Set within the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the work unfolds inside the Wandering Hall of Possibility, a thoughtfully designed performance space where light, music and storytelling combine to create moments of quiet magic. Rather than a single narrative, the production presents a series of interconnected stories that explore curiosity, transformation and the enduring power of wonder.
One of the featured performances, The Tree of Light, offers a particularly evocative experience. Using shadow play, original music and visual storytelling, it creates an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive and invites audiences to slow down and reflect.
Designed to resonate across ages, A Concise Compendium of Wonder is an ideal cultural outing to enjoy with visiting grandchildren or younger family members. Its gentle pace, visual richness and universal themes make it accessible without being simplistic.
As part of Adelaide Festival’s 2026 program, the production reflects the Festival’s commitment to work that brings generations together. It is theatre that sparks imagination, conversation and shared memories long after the final moment fades.
A Concise Compendium of Wonder
Adelaide Festival 2026
Dates: 18 February – 15 March 2026
Venue: The Wandering Hall of Possibility, Plane Tree Lawn, Adelaide Botanic Garden
Presented by: Slingsby
Tickets: adelaidefestival.com.au
For more information about the production, visit slingsby.net.au/a-concise-compendium-of-wonder/
